Jacob Trouba’s unique physical gift is back for Rangers — at just the right time
NY Post
Regarding the Rangers, who indeed get the Panthers for Game 7 at the Garden on Thursday:
1. Oh, Game 7 of the 2024-25 regular season and not Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern final. The Blueshirts have beaten up on suspect teams through this 5-0-1 getaway in which they have flaunted their talent while still relying too often on Igor Shesterkin’s brilliance.
This one should carry some emotion with it. This is a challenge whose significance should not be overstated on either side of the ledger.
Remember, after losing in six to Tampa Bay in the 2022 conference final, the Blueshirts opened the 2022-23 season with a bravura performance in defeating the Lightning at the Garden. Its significance became null and void when the club spun into months of mediocrity following this one shining moment.
2. But Jacob Trouba’s anachronistic hit that destroyed Justin Barron as the Habs winger came carefree into the zone 7:11 into the third period of the Blueshirts’ 7-2 victory in Montreal on Tuesday — and raised temperatures to a fever pitch across the Internet universe — served as a reminder to the Cup champ Puddy Tats that there is always menace lurking on the Rangers blue line.
And this time not operating on a damaged ankle.
Michael Pittman Jr. has a gut feeling.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Toumani Camara had career highs of nine 3-pointers and 35 points to help Portland beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-99 on Monday night, the Trail Blazers’ largest margin of victory this season.
The Rangers hit the mark with their on-ice ceremony honoring Mika Zibanejad ahead of his 1,000th NHL game Monday night.
PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.
‘Freak of nature: Zion Williamson’s resurgence could pose a Knicks problem versus motivated Pelicans
Zion Williamson is slimmer and healthier for his trip to MSG.
Don’t blame Mikal Bridges for his paltry stats. Blame the role.
Almost a year to the day after a goaltender interference call against Kyle Palmieri lost the Islanders a game against the Blue Jackets that started their season’s death spiral, they were on the wrong end of another controversial call against those same Blue Jackets that might have had the same effect.
On the Queens side of town, the reno began in earnest almost as soon as Francisco Lindor grounded into the 4-6-3 double play. That ended a 4-0 loss before a rare sizable crowd at Miami’s loanDepot Park last Sept. 27, all of them there to witness the final death rattles of an epic baseball calamity.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is being paid handsomely for his breakout season.
Next comes the harder part. Mostly because it can’t get any easier.
It was Kids Day at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, but for the Rangers, it’s been All About The Kids for months.
PORT ST. LUCIE — From the moment he was told he needed surgery on his left hamate bone, Francisco Lindor fixated on the recovery time. Trainers provided the Mets shortstop a six-week pathway to return to play, and Lindor was determined to hit every marker.
Dylan Garand knew the number off the top of his head. He knew that, between the regular season and playoffs, he’d logged over 160 games with AHL Hartford, and he was right. Before the Rangers recalled him Friday, Garand had served as the Wolf Pack’s goaltender 165 times.